On August 27th, 1999, Universal Pictures released "Dudley Do-right", based on the cartoon of the same name. Riding the success of George of the Jungle, Brendon Fraser stars as the goofy Canadian Mountie. Set a few years after the series, Nell (Sarah Jessica Parker) returns to Canada from Seattle after becoming a noteworthy business woman. She is still confused about her relationships with men. She had returned to finally find out if here and Dudley ever had a chance to be something more.

At the same time, Dudley's childhood bully, Snidely Whiplash (Alfred Molina), has returned with sinister scheme. He plants fake gold into a local mine, and beings to spread rumors that there is gold in the mountains. This creates a giant gold rush in Semi-Happy Valley, bring the greedy miners into town in search of riches. Thousands of prospectors invade the town and it is quickly renamed Wiplash Valley. Unable to keep order in the town, Nell's father (and Dudley's boss) is forced to relieve Dudley from his mountie duties. It is now up to him to kick Snidely out of town, get his job back, and win Nell's heart.

My Review
A good film that was a flop at the box office. If he didn't have the Dudley accent down, why bother doing this film? Dudley Do-Right was an homage for old silent films, and this kind of pushed it a bit. The story development is simple, the pacing is slow, and the energy is low. I'm sure the movie looked great on paper, but the caliber of this movie was lackluster indeed.

Both campy and dramatic, the movie is a refreshing twist on the cartoon and is filled with funny moments, but fails to ultimately deliver a laugh bigger than a stifle. It seems as though the movie takes the original plot of Dudley Do-right and expands it into a full-fledged story, minus the funny. During points of the film you're left wondering if this hour-long Saturday Night Live skit will ever end. To really appreciate the story, you'd have to be a major fan of Dudley Do-right in general. People new to the concept that this was intended as a parody will find the old style (and narrator) annoying and obtrusive.

Even if you're not a devout fan of Dudley, there is another reason to check out this movie. On both the VHS and DVD of the film, you'll get one of the best treats: A new Fractured Fairytale! This one is titled "The Phox, The Box, and The Lox," and offers a comedic tale in the grand tradition of the show. This alone would be reason enough to rent the movie.